Insulin Aspart injection

What is this medicine?

INSULIN ASPART (IN su lin AS part) is a human-made form of insulin. This drug lowers the amount of sugar in your blood. It is a fast acting insulin that starts working faster than regular insulin. It will not work as long as regular insulin.

How should I use this medicine?

This medicine is for injection under the skin. Use exactly as directed. It is important to follow the directions given to you by your health care professional or doctor. If you are using Novolog, you should start your meal within 5 to 10 minutes after injection. If you are using Fiasp, you should start your meal at the time of injection or within 20 minutes after injection. Have food ready before injection. Do not delay eating. You will be taught how to use this medicine and how to adjust doses for activities and illness. Do not use more insulin than prescribed. Do not use more or less often than prescribed.

Always check the appearance of your insulin before using it. This medicine should be clear and colorless like water. Do not use if it is cloudy, thickened, colored, or has solid particles in it. If you use a pen, be sure to take off the outer needle cover before using the dose. It is important that you put your used needles and syringes in a special sharps container. Do not put them in a trash can. If you do not have a sharps container, call your pharmacist or healthcare provider to get one.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as 2 years for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

increase or decrease in fatty tissue under the skin due to overuse of a particular injection site

itching, burning, swelling, or rash at site where injected

What may interact with this medicine?

other medicines for diabetes

Many medications may cause an increase or decrease in blood sugar, these include:

alcohol containing beverages

antiviral medicines for HIV or AIDS

aspirin and aspirin-like drugs

certain medicines for depression, anxiety, or psychotic disturbances

chromium

diuretics

female hormones, like estrogens or progestins and birth control pills

heart medicines

isoniazid

MAOIs like Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate

male hormones or anabolic steroids

medicines for weight loss

medicines for allergies, asthma, cold, or cough

niacin

NSAIDs, medicines for pain and inflammation, like ibuprofen or naproxen

octreotide

pentamidine

phenytoin

probenecid

quinolone antibiotics like ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ofloxacin

some herbal dietary supplements

steroid medicines like prednisone or cortisone

sulfamethoxazole; trimethoprim

thyroid medicine

Some medications can hide the warning symptoms of low blood sugar. You may need to monitor your blood sugar more closely if you are taking one of these medications. These include:

beta-blockers such as atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol

clonidine

guanethidine

reserpine

What if I miss a dose?

It is important not to miss a dose. Your health care professional or doctor should discuss a plan for missed doses with you. If you do miss a dose, follow their plan. Do not take double doses.

Where should I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Unopened Vials:

Novolog Vials: Store in a refrigerator between 2 and 8 degrees C (36 and 46 degrees F) or at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Do not freeze or use if the insulin has been frozen. Protect from light and excessive heat. If stored at room temperature, the vial must be discarded after 28 days. Throw away any unopened and unused medicine that has been stored in the refrigerator after the expiration date.

Fiasp Vials: Store in a refrigerator between 2 and 8 degrees C (36 and 46 degrees F) or at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Do not freeze or use if the insulin has been frozen. Protect from light and excessive heat. If stored at room temperature, the vial must be discarded after 28 days. Throw away any unopened and unused medicine that has been stored in the refrigerator after the expiration date.

Unopened Pens and Cartridges:

Novolog Flexpens and cartridges: Store in a refrigerator between 2 and 8 degrees C (36 and 46 degrees F) or at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Do not freeze or use if the insulin has been frozen. Protect from light and excessive heat. If stored at room temperature, the pen or cartridge must be discarded after 28 days. Throw away any unopened and unused medicine that has been stored in the refrigerator after the expiration date.

Fiasp FlexTouch pens: Store in a refrigerator between 2 and 8 degrees C (36 and 46 degrees F) or at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Do not freeze or use if the insulin has been frozen. Protect from light and excessive heat. If stored at room temperature, the pen must be discarded after 28 days. Throw away any unopened and unused medicine that has been stored in the refrigerator after the expiration date.

Fiasp FlexTouch cartridges: Store at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Do not refrigerate or freeze. Keep away from heat and light. Throw the cartridge away after 28 days, even if it still has insulin left in it.

Vials that you are using:

Novolog Vials: Store in the refrigerator or at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Do not freeze. Keep away from heat and light. Throw the opened vial away after 28 days.

Fiasp Vials: Store in the refrigerator or at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Do not freeze. Keep away from heat and light. Throw the opened vial away after 28 days.

Pens and cartridges that you are using:

Novolog Flexpens and cartridges: Store at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Do not refrigerate or freeze. Keep away from heat and light. Throw away the pen or cartridge after 28 days, even if it still has insulin left in it.

Fiasp FlexTouch pens: Store in the refrigerator or at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Do not freeze. Keep away from heat and light. Throw the pen away after 28 days, even if it still has insulin left in it.

Fiasp FlexTouch cartridges: Store at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Do not refrigerate or freeze. Keep away from heat and light. Throw the cartridge away after 28 days, even if it still has insulin left in it.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

episodes of low blood sugar

eye disease, vision problems

kidney disease

liver disease

an unusual or allergic reaction to insulin, metacresol, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

pregnant or trying to get pregnant

breast-feeding

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Visit your health care professional or doctor for regular checks on your progress.

A test called the HbA1C (A1C) will be monitored. This is a simple blood test. It measures your blood sugar control over the last 2 to 3 months. You will receive this test every 3 to 6 months.

Learn how to check your blood sugar. Learn the symptoms of low and high blood sugar and how to manage them.

Always carry a quick-source of sugar with you in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar. Examples include hard sugar candy or glucose tablets. Make sure others know that you can choke if you eat or drink when you develop serious symptoms of low blood sugar, such as seizures or unconsciousness. They must get medical help at once.

Tell your doctor or health care professional if you have high blood sugar. You might need to change the dose of your medicine. If you are sick or exercising more than usual, you might need to change the dose of your medicine.

Do not skip meals. Ask your doctor or health care professional if you should avoid alcohol. Many nonprescription cough and cold products contain sugar or alcohol. These can affect blood sugar.

Make sure that you have the right kind of syringe for the type of insulin you use. Try not to change the brand and type of insulin or syringe unless your health care professional or doctor tells you to. Switching insulin brand or type can cause dangerously high or low blood sugar. Always keep an extra supply of insulin, syringes, and needles on hand. Use a syringe one time only. Throw away syringe and needle in a closed container to prevent accidental needle sticks.

Insulin pens and cartridges should never be shared. Even if the needle is changed, sharing may result in passing of viruses like hepatitis or HIV.

Each time you get a new box of pen needles, check to see if they are the same type as the ones you were trained to use. If not, ask your health care professional to show you how to use this new type properly.

Wear a medical ID bracelet or chain, and carry a card that describes your disease and details of your medicine and dosage times.